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Yeast Cell Biology PhD: How Ribosomal RNA Production Scales with Cell Size

Project 2717 · University of Edinburgh · School of Biological Sciences

Application workspace

Save this opportunity and prepare around its actual requirements. Confirm deadlines and eligibility at the original source.

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Country or region
United Kingdom
Application deadline
2027-01-06 (confirm the exact time with the source)
Funding
Darwin Trust awards of up to four years are described for eligible non-UK nationals whose first university degree was awarded less than five years before the round deadline. Awards include an annual stipend and University tuition for up to four years. The 2027 stipend amount and project allocation are unknown.

The research opportunity

【Project overview】 This University of Edinburgh PhD will investigate how ribosomal RNA (rRNA) production scales with cell size in budding yeast. Cells need to coordinate ribosome supply with growth, but the control of rRNA output as cells enlarge remains unresolved.

【Project details】 A 2023 study by the Swaffer group showed how RNA polymerase II dosage and mRNA stability contribute to mRNA size-scaling. That work provides a comparison, not an explanation for rRNA: rRNA is made from a repeated DNA template by a different polymerase system, mature rRNA is stable, and precursor processing may offer a distinct regulatory point.

The project asks whether rRNA scaling involves changes in the active share of rDNA repeats, RNA polymerase I activity or transcriptional progression; whether precursor-rRNA processing and nucleolar quality control provide a balancing mechanism; and what limits ribosome scaling and affects growth or proteome homeostasis. These are questions to test, not stated outcomes. The budding-yeast system is described as tractable for studying rDNA activity and cell-size effects separately from cell-cycle or ploidy changes.

The project lists quantitative functional genomics, RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, metabolic labelling, CRAC-seq, proteomics, single-cell imaging and computational analysis as possible approaches. The precise focus will be developed with the supervisor. Training is provided and prior experience is helpful but not required. No fixed workplan, milestone or quantitative success threshold is stated.

Dr Matthew Swaffer is the primary supervisor and Professor Sander Granneman is the secondary supervisor. The project is based in Edinburgh’s Centre for Cell Biology and names the Wellcome Discovery Research Platform for Hidden Cell Biology as a source of technical support; specific platform access and work division are to be confirmed.

【Application】 The listed funding route is the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh. Its general rules describe awards of up to four years for eligible non-UK nationals whose first university degree was awarded less than five years before the round deadline. Awards include an annual stipend and University tuition for up to four years. The 2027 stipend amount, project allocation and exact 2027/28 fee coverage are unknown.

The Edinburgh deadline is 6 January 2027 at 12:00 GMT, with two academic or equivalent references due at the same time; one should be from an academic tutor. Applicants should contact the intended supervisor with a CV. The initial Trust application does not require a separate University application or English evidence; successful applicants must later meet University admission and English requirements. Interviews are scheduled for 15–19 March 2027, with October 2027 entry planned. The general 2026/27 Biological Sciences PhD requirement is usually a relevant 2:1 or equivalent; 2027/28 requirements need confirmation.

Edinburgh’s 2026/27 postgraduate living-cost estimate is £1,542 per month or £18,504 per year, excluding tuition and study costs. It is not a 2027/28 quote, and the award’s purchasing power cannot be assessed without its stipend amount.

【Points to confirm】 Confirm eligibility, the application checklist, project funding allocation, stipend and later University admission requirements. At interview, ask how the project scope will be selected, what balance of RNA biology and computational work is expected, and what supervisor time, training and platform access are committed. Obtain written funding and registration terms before accepting an offer.

Information date This summary uses project materials collected through 7 November 2026. Funding terms, application dates, admission requirements and costs can change; confirm them on the official pages for the relevant round before applying.

Research and application brief

Report generated: . This date does not confirm that recruitment remains open.

Information updated: . Recheck the original notice before applying.

Show report contents

Yeast Cell Biology PhD: How Ribosomal RNA Production Scales with Cell Size

This assessment uses project materials collected through 7 November 2026. Funding terms, application dates, admission requirements and costs can change; confirm them on the official pages for the relevant round before applying.

Quick Decision

This project asks how ribosomal RNA (rRNA) production keeps pace with cell size in budding yeast. The mechanism is open. Swaffer et al. showed that RNA polymerase II dosage and mRNA stability feedback together scale mRNA with size, but that result does not explain rRNA (2023 paper). The project is a distinct extension, focused on rDNA activity, RNA polymerase I and precursor-rRNA control.

It best suits applicants interested in quantitative cell biology, RNA, genomics and computation. The advert lists RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, metabolic labelling, CRAC-seq, proteomics, imaging and computational analysis in yeast; training is provided and prior experience is helpful but not required. This list does not fix the eventual project plan.

Funding is advertised through the Darwin Trust. The Trust describes awards of up to four years for eligible non-UK nationals, including an annual stipend and tuition, with a first-degree recency rule. The Edinburgh page for October 2027 sets the deadline at 12 noon GMT on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The project’s award allocation and 2027 stipend amount remain unknown (Darwin Trust application procedure).

Research Problem and Doctoral Work

What Is Unsolved and Why It Matters

The advert asks whether cells scale rRNA by changing the active share of rDNA repeats, Pol I activity or transcriptional progression; whether precursor-rRNA processing provides a balancing mechanism; and what limits ribosome scaling and its relationship to growth. These are questions, not established outcomes. A 2025 Swaffer-group paper on polyploidy and transcription adds broad cell-size context but is not an rRNA study (paper).

Work, Methods, and Potential Outputs

The proposed system is budding yeast. The advert names quantitative functional genomics, RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, metabolic labelling, CRAC-seq, proteomics, single-cell imaging and computation; the precise focus will be developed with the primary supervisor. Possible outcomes include a mechanistic account connecting cell size to rRNA production and growth, but no specific result or paper is guaranteed. Public information does not specify a workplan, datasets or division of work between labs.

School, Programme and Field Context

The project is advertised in Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences. The School reports a QS 2025 top-25 worldwide biological-sciences subject position (School PGR page). The general full-time PhD route is four years and lists a usual relevant 2:1 for 2026/27; confirm 2027/28 requirements and Darwin registration steps (programme). School-wide transferable-skills training is described, but a project-specific schedule is unknown (training).

Supervisor and Lab Assessment

Supervisor Research Directions

Matthew Swaffer studies cell-size regulation, gene expression and RNA processing using quantitative approaches. Sander Granneman is an RNA Biochemistry professor focused on RNA regulation. Their profiles suggest complementary expertise; supervision cadence and work split are unconfirmed (Swaffer; Granneman).

Recent Important Publications

  • Swaffer et al. (2023, Cell): RNAPII dosage and mRNA stability feedback contribute to mRNA size-scaling, not rRNA regulation (PubMed).
  • Swaffer-group (2025, J Cell Biol): polyploidy and transcriptional output; broad context only (repository).
  • Granneman-group (2024, eLife): Sfp1 links synthesis and decay for selected mRNAs; adjacent context, not pre-rRNA evidence (lab bibliography).

Lab, Resources, and Collaboration Environment

The advert places the project at the Centre for Cell Biology and names the Wellcome Discovery Research Platform for Hidden Cell Biology as a source of technical support. Exact platform access and cross-lab arrangements are not public.

Funding, Application, and Living Cost

The Darwin Trust awards annual stipends and University tuition for up to four years to eligible non-UK nationals whose first university degree was awarded less than five years before the round deadline. For October 2027 entry, its Edinburgh instructions set the application and referee deadline at 12 noon GMT on Wednesday 6 January 2027. Applicants should contact an aligned academic with a CV, complete the Trust online form and arrange two academic or equivalent references. The page says no separate University of Edinburgh application or English evidence is required at this initial Trust stage, although English evidence is needed later. Interviews are scheduled for 15–19 March 2027, with interview invitations by 1 March. The project’s award allocation and 2027 stipend amount remain unknown (Trust application procedure, Trust award terms). Edinburgh’s 2026/27 postgraduate living-cost estimate is £18,504/year (£1,542/month), excluding tuition; without the award amount, personal budget sufficiency cannot be assessed (costs).

Applicant Fit and Preparation

Required Background and Skills

The advert welcomes relevant science backgrounds and says method experience is not required because training is provided. Trust eligibility includes non-UK nationality and a first degree awarded less than five years before the closing date. Check the 2027/28 university requirements.

Preferred Experience and Suggested Preparation

Quantitative reasoning and biological-data interpretation are useful preparation, not stated selection criteria. Read the 2023 Cell paper and consider why its mRNA mechanism cannot simply be assumed for rRNA.

Next Actions and Questions to Verify

Before Applying

Confirm the Trust deadline/time zone, application route, project award allocation, stipend, tuition coverage and registration process. Ask the supervisors about project priorities and division of supervision.

At Interview

Clarify the expected balance of RNA biology, genomics, imaging and computation, plus training and platform access.

Before Accepting an Offer

Obtain written award terms, start date, registration school and any uncovered costs.

Evidence and Sources

Sources

The listing may come from a university or recruitment platform. Check the notice and official sources in the report for current application requirements. View the recruitment source

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